Agapanthus hybrid plant named AMDB002

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Agapanthus , ‘AMDB002’, that is characterized by a vigorous growth habit, a medium plant size, inflorescences that form dense umbels of flowers, violet-blue outer tepal color, violet-blue and white striping of the inner tepal, an extended flowering season with blooming and re-blooming from early spring to late summer and sporadically in early fall, a very floriferous blooming period producing an unusually high number of inflorescences, and good resistance to fungal infection from  Macrophoma agapanthii.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the novel varietydisclosed herein is Agapanthus hybrid.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Agapanthus hybriddisclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘AMDB002’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety ofAgapanthus hybrid, which has been named ‘AMDB002’. Its market class isPLT/398. Agapanthus, commonly called “lily of the Nile”, is a floweringperennial native to South Africa that forms clumps of dark greenstrap-like leaves with umbels rising above the foliage and bearingnumerous flowers which range in color from pale violet to dark purple.Its consistent size and performance, combined with its attractiveinflorescences through its hardiness range make it an ideal choice forspecimen, borders and mass plantings in any full to filtered sun toshady, low-maintenance landscape or container.

Parentage: The cultivar ‘AMDB002’ is a seedling selection resulting froma controlled pollination breeding program by the Inventor inHartebeespoort, Northwest Province, South Africa. The objective of thebreeding program is to develop new cultivars of Agapanthus that are fastgrowing, early flowering and that display repeat flowering and uniqueflower colors. The Inventor made a controlled cross in October of 2008between an unnamed plant of Agapanthus comptonii hybrid from theInventor's breeding program as the female parent and an unnamed plant ofAgapanthus campanulatus hybrid from the Inventor's breeding program asthe male parent. The Inventor selected ‘AMDB002’ in November of 2010 asa single unique plant amongst the seedlings that resulted from the abovecross.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was firstaccomplished by division by the Inventor in Hartebeespoort, NorthwestProvince, South Africa in November of 2010. Asexual propagation bydivision and tissue culture through six successive generations hasdetermined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable andare reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. The characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘AMDB002’ as a distinct cultivar of Agapanthus.

-   -   1. ‘AMDB002’ exhibits a fast growing and fast multiplying growth        habit.    -   2. ‘AMDB002’ exhibits a medium plant size.    -   3. ‘AMDB002’ exhibits inflorescences that form dense umbels of        flowers that are violet-blue in color.    -   4. ‘AMDB002’ exhibits an extended flowering season blooming and        re-blooming from early spring to late summer and sporadically in        early fall.    -   5. ‘AMDB002’ exhibits a very floriferous blooming period        producing an unusually high number of inflorescences.    -   6. ‘AMDB002’ exhibits good resistance to fungal infection from        Macrophoma agapanthii.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows as true as is reasonably possible to obtain in colorphotographs of this type, an exemplary ‘AMDB002’ specimen, approximately24 months of age, grown at a wholesale nursery in Hartebeespoort,Northwest Province, South Africa under 40 percent shade.

FIG. 2 shows as true as is reasonably possible to obtain in colorphotographs of this type, an exemplary umbel of ‘AMDB002’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinctAgapanthus hybrid seedling selection known as ‘AMDB002’. Unlessindicated otherwise, the descriptions disclosed herein are based uponobservations made in October 2015 of mature ‘AMDB002’ plants,approximately 24 months of age, grown outdoors at a wholesale nurseryfacility in Hartebeespoort, Northwest Province, South Africa. Saidplants were grown under 40 percent shade cloth, irrigated manually asneeded, and fertilized every four months with a slow release completefertilizer. Preventative pesticide applications were made every three tofour weeks.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘AMDB002’ hasnot been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climactic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 1986 edition. Note that generic colordescriptions such as “green” do not exist in the R.H.S. charts and thecorresponding R.H.S. colors are quoted.

The distinguishing features and other characteristics of Agapanthushybrid ‘AMDB002’ are apparent from the description provided below.

-   General plant description:    -   -   Plant habit.—Rhizomatous herbaceous perennial with an            arching habit.        -   Height.—40 to 50 cm.        -   Width.—70 to 80 cm.        -   Bloom period.—AMDB002 exhibits an extended flowering season,            blooming and re-blooming from early spring to late summer            and sporadically in early fall.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 9 to 10.        -   Environmental tolerances.—Prefers to be grown in filtered            sun. Drought tolerant once established; moderate to good            recovery with watering after severe wilting. Tolerates a            wide range of soil types from sandy loam to loamy clay.        -   Pest and disease susceptibility or resistance.—‘AMDB002’            exhibits good resistance to fungal infection from Macrophoma            agapanthii.        -   Propagation.—Propagation is accomplished through division of            rhizomes and also meristem tissue culture.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 3 weeks.        -   Crop time.—Depending on latitude of and microclimate of            growing location, a fully rooted cutting requires            approximately 3 months with an additional 5 to 7 months            needed to produce a mature and marketable 15 cm container.-   Roots: The roots are fibrous and freely-branched, colored white,    fleshy, similar to other Agapanthus; high root density.-   Stem:    -   -   Branching habit.—Acaulescent, rhizomatous plant with shoots            emerging from rhizomes with an upright attitude.-   Basal shoots:    -   -   Shoots density.—15 divisions, or propagules, per nursery            pot, with the oldest propagules near the center of the            plant's crown possessing 12 to 14 leaves and shoots of            varying ages and sizes.        -   Shoot strength.—Medium.        -   Cross section.—Concave.        -   Shoot color (adaxial & abaxial surfaces).—Nearest to            yellow-green RHS 144A to 144B.        -   Shoot surface texture.—Smooth.-   Foliage:    -   -   Type.—Evergreen.        -   Arrangement.—Basal.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Attitude.—Arched.        -   Shape.—Linear.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Sheathed.        -   Cross section.—Flat.        -   Venation.—Parallel.        -   Vein color (adaxial surfaces).—Green, RHS 137A.        -   Vein color (abaxial surfaces).—Green, RHS 137C.        -   Margins.—Entire.        -   Attachment.—Acaulescent.        -   Texture.—Smooth and glossy.        -   Surface hairiness (adaxial surface).—Glabrous.        -   Surfaces hairiness (abaxial surface).—Glabrous.        -   Mature leaf dimensions.—longest observed leaf measuring            length 280 mm, average width 20 mm at widest point.        -   Mature leaf color, adaxial & abaxial surfaces.—Green,            approximating to a combination of RHS 137A to 137B, and            Green RHS 137C, respectively.        -   Petiole.—Leaves are acaulescent; sessile.        -   Stipules.—Absent.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Umbellate.        -   Umbel diameter.—Approximately 180 to 200 mm.        -   Number of umbels per pot.—potentially more than one            inflorescence per propagule, per growing season.        -   Number of flowers per umbel.—Approximately 55 to 60.        -   Scape dimensions.—Approximately 50 to 55 cm long and 1.0 to            1.25 cm wide at the base.        -   Other characteristics of scape.—Color is Green RHS 137D;            cylindrical shape; texture is smooth; glabrous.-   Buds:    -   -   Bud shape.—Obelliptic; apex round; base cuneate.        -   Bud dimensions.—28 mm long and 7 mm wide, prior to anthesis.        -   Bud color.—Violet-Blue RHS 93A.        -   Bud texture.—Glabrous.-   Flowers:    -   -   General.—Apetalous flowers; shape is campanulate to rotate;            self-cleaning and non-fragrant. Attitude is upward and            outward.        -   Pedicel dimensions.—38 to 40 mm long and 1.5 mm wide, as            measured.        -   Pedicel color.—Green RHS 137D at the base and darker at and            near the distal end, near Yellow-Green RHS 147A.        -   Pedicel surface.—Glabrous.        -   Perianth dimensions.—approximately 40 to 45 mm wide and 30            mm deep, at anthesis.        -   Tepals.—Six basally fused tepals.        -   Tepal shape.—Oblanceolate; apex is round.        -   Tepal dimensions.—28 mm long and 19 mm wide, as measured.        -   Outer tepal color.—Ranging from Violet-Blue RHS 94B to 94C.        -   Inner tepal color.—Margins — Ranging from Violet-Blue RHS            92C to Violet-Blue RHS 94D. Midrib area — Violet-Blue RHS            92C. Intermediate area — Violet-Blue RHS 92D.        -   Tepal surface.—Smooth; glabrous.        -   Tepal margin.—Entire.-   Reproductive Organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Six.        -   Stamen attachment.—Each is adnate to a corresponding tepal.        -   Filament color.—Violet-Blue RHS 92D at base, becoming            Violet-Blue RHS 92C near apex.        -   Filament dimensions.—17 mm long and approximately 0.75 mm            wide.        -   Anther attachment.—Dorsifixed.        -   Anther dimensions.—1.5 mm long and 1 to 1.25 mm wide.        -   Anther color.—Appearing as a mixture of Black RHS 202A and            Green-yellow RHS 1B.        -   Pollen.—Present; high quantity; color appears to be            Green-Yellow RHS 1B.        -   Pistil.—One.        -   Pistil dimensions.—21 mm long, from apex of ovary; width is            approximately 0.75 mm.        -   Pistil color.—Violet-Blue RHS 92D at base, becoming            Violet-Blue RHS 92C near apex.        -   Ovary shape.—Oblong.        -   Ovary color.—Yellow-Green RHS 150B.        -   Ovary dimensions.—7 mm long and 3.5 mm wide.        -   Ovary position.—Superior.-   Fruit and seeds: Not observed.-   Comparisons with the parents: The new Agapanthus plant ‘AMDB002’ may    be distinguished from the female parent by the following combination    of characteristics: 1. ‘AMDB002’ exhibits a larger inflorescence    when compared to that of the female parent. 2. ‘AMDB002’ exhibits a    larger flower and longer pedicel when compared to that of the female    parent. 3. ‘AMDB002’ exhibits an improved reblooming habit when    compared to that of the female parent. The new Agapanthus plant    ‘AMDB002’ may be distinguished from the pollen parent by the    following combination of characteristics: 1. ‘AMDB002’ exhibits a    violet-blue outer tepal color, whereas the tepals of the pollen    parent exhibit a purple color. 2. ‘AMDB002’ initiates blooming    earlier in the season when compared to the pollen parent. 3.    ‘AMDB002’ exhibits a significantly improved reblooming habit when    compared to that of the pollen parent.-   Comparisons with most similar Agapanthus cultivar known to the    inventor: The new Agapanthus plant ‘AMDB002’ may be distinguished    from the most similar variety known to the breeder, Agapanthus    ‘Andbin’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. PP26336), by the following combination    of characteristics: 1. ‘AMDB002’ exhibits a smaller flower when    compared to the flower of ‘Andbin’. 2. ‘AMDB002’ exhibits a    campanulate to rotate flower shape with a longer perianth tube,    whereas ‘Andbin’ exhibits an open, rotate flower shape with a    shorter perianth tube. 3. The tepals of ‘AMDB002’ exhibit blue    margins and midribs with a white intermediate zone, whereas ‘Andbin’    exhibits a solid blue tepal coloration. 4. ‘AMDB002’ exhibits a    larger overall plant size when compared to ‘Andbin’.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Agapanthus hybrid plantselection named ‘AMDB002’, substantially as described and illustratedherein.